The current Women’s featherweight champion has been able to climb the MMA ladder using her strong point: Wrestling. She has been able to use her stand-up or grappling merely as a way of setting up the takedown which has led to ground-and-pound or a submission. While she does have three knockouts on her record (Welsh, Bednark, and Oriza), her bread-and-butter has been the level of wrestling that she brings into a division composed of mainly strikers. Not only does she have wrestling at her disposal, but she can also hold her own on the mat as the majority of her wins are via submission.

Tate typically waits for her opponents as she strategically watches their timing and prepares for the right striking combination. For Rousey she won’t have much time for this as Rousey doesn’t like to trade strikes for long before getting in the clinch. With Tate having her wrestling background, as well as grappling, she will need to keep her stance low and stable as Rousey will try to move her about for a sweep or trip. It will only be a matter of time before Tate will want to take things to the mat herself and use some ground-and-pound to soften Rousey, then go for a submission.

“ROWDY” RONDA ROUSEY

Rousey is coming off four first round submission victories using her Judo background to throw her opponents into vulnerable positions. Her obvious strengths are Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), which has shown that she is keen on closing the distance early, getting in the clinch and setting up a throw.

Rousey won’t want to stand and bag with Tate as she is the superior striker, so she needs to move in quick for the clinch. Preferably, she should take this approach as soon as the fight starts, surprising Tate, giving her no time to think and go for the trip. Giving Tate time to watch her timing isn’t in Rousey’s best interests and going for the quick takedown will prevent Tate from having a protective stance, making it easier to be successful and in dominant position. When on the mat, Rousey will want to use some ground-and-pound to weaken up Tate since a submission won’t be as easy against someone with Tate’s ground game. Either this approach, or weigh down on Tate mixing up the punches from body to her head until a choke is possible.

Either way you swing Rousey’s getting this title show, whether it’s fair considering Rousey still being new to MMA or justified because of the business side of things, it’s going to be a true test to both fighters who have never fought someone with such skill settings.